Seven suspects jailed in Algeria over arson attacks

Seven people suspected of being behind an outbreak of fires in Algeria have been placed in pre-trial detention, a court in Algiers announced.

The alleged arsonists have been detained in connection with five recent cases of fires in the Guelma, Constantine, Tipaza, Jijel and Bouira provinces, the official APS news agency cited the court as saying on Sunday evening.

They are being prosecuted for "acts of sabotage endangering the lives, safety and property of individuals, as well as for the deliberate burning of forest assets", according to the statement.

One of them is accused of setting fire to a private agricultural holding and causing the destruction of an area of 500 square metres "including olive trees, Aleppo pines and scrubland".

Since mid-July, several provinces in the north of the country have recorded forest and scrub fires, mobilising significant human and material resources to combat them.

At least six people have died since the start of the wave of fires, according to official figures.

Algeria's civil defence said Monday that 63 fires affecting forests, scrubland, brush, crops and oases were recorded over the past 24 hours across the country, almost all of which had been put out or brought under control.

Algeria is confronted every summer with fires exacerbated by high temperatures and drought.

Climate change is making extreme weather conditions more frequent and intense.

In recent years, extensive fires have caused the deaths of dozens of people, destroyed thousands of hectares of forests and agricultural land, as well as numerous homes.